Dental and dental hygiene students at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston can count on the UTSD Family & Friends Association to make school a little more enjoyable. The organization is open to parents, spouses or friends of UTSD students. New members are always welcome.

The Family & Friends Association provides assistance for the school’s annual dental and dental hygiene White Coat Ceremonies and Open Houses, a barbecue for freshmen, a holiday dance and dental prom, emergency student loans, improvements to the Student Lounge, snacks during final exams, and graduation banquets for dental and dental hygiene students. The association also helps with the annual Dental Olympics, which this year will be held in Houston.

In a letter to potential members, Sowa discussed the benefits of membership.

“The question naturally arises: ‘What will I get for joining the association?’” she wrote. “You’ll benefit by being connected to the UTSD community that is now your student’s home away from home. You’ll meet other UTSD parents and spouses and get the peace of mind that comes from having a resource for getting answers to questions or help when you wouldn’t otherwise know where to begin. You’ll be supporting your student’s school. And you’ll receive the Family & Friends Association newsletter.”